The Supreme Court and several High Courts have increasingly adopted AI-powered tools to tackle persistent issues like case delays, translation barriers, and heavy workloads, with recent implementations showing significant efficiency gains. This comes amid a growing backlog of over 50 million cases across Indian courts, prompting the judiciary to leverage technology for faster justice delivery while maintaining human oversight.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Its Basic Role in the Judiciary?
Definition and Foundations: AI refers to computer systems that perform tasks requiring human intelligence, such as speech recognition and decision-making, built on machine learning where algorithms improve from data without explicit programming.
Application in Indian Courts: In India, AI tools address the massive case backlog of over 50 million pending matters by automating routine tasks like transcription and translation, allowing judges to focus on core legal analysis.
Historical Context: The integration began with the e-Courts project in 2005, evolving to include AI since 2017, with the Supreme Court piloting tools like SUPACE in 2021 to enhance efficiency.
What Are the Key AI Tools Being Used in Indian Courts?
TERES (Technology Enabled ReSolution): This transcription tool converts oral arguments to text in real time during hearings, used in Supreme Court Constitution Benches and exported to courts in Dubai and Singapore for its accuracy with human review.
SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software): An AI-based translation engine that converts English judgments into regional languages like Hindi, Tamil, and Punjabi, with over 83,000 translations completed to promote linguistic inclusivity.
Adalat AI: Deployed in High Courts, it manages workloads by organizing cases, transcribing regional language testimonies, and flagging filing errors, ensuring secure, in-house data handling.
SUPACE and LegRAA: Research assistants that scan large volumes of judgments to extract facts, identify issues, and list precedents, helping reduce research time for judges and lawyers.
How Do These AI Tools Work in Practice?
Transcription and Recording Process: Tools like TERES capture fast-paced courtroom discussions, with AI generating initial transcripts corrected by humans to avoid errors that could impact judgments.
Translation Mechanism: SUVAS uses natural language processing to translate legal texts accurately, supporting India's multilingual society and making judgments accessible in 18 languages.
Case Management Features: Adalat AI provides a single-window view of case stages, integrates with WhatsApp for status updates in some states, and ensures compliance with security protocols like sovereign data storage.
Research and Review Functions: Platforms analyze documents for missing clauses or relevant laws, with tools like CaseMine identifying overruled precedents to prevent citation errors.
Why is AI Adoption Important for the Indian Judiciary?
Addressing Case Backlogs: With over 50 million pending cases, AI speeds up processes like filing scrutiny and depositions, potentially reducing delays by weeks in cross-examinations.
Enhancing Accessibility: Translation tools like SUVAS bridge language gaps, ensuring justice is understandable for non-English speakers in diverse states.
Improving Efficiency: Judges save time on administrative tasks, with Kerala embedding AI in filings to screen 46,000 cases and cut correction time.
Global and Economic Benefits: AI supports India's nuclear and renewable goals indirectly through efficient legal systems, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing import dependence on foreign tech.
What Are the Challenges and Risks Associated with AI in Courts?
Bias and Accuracy Concerns: AI can perpetuate biases from training data, requiring human oversight to maintain judicial integrity, as highlighted in the Supreme Court's December 2025 white paper.
Data Security and Privacy: Tools must ensure no third-party access, with protocols like in-house models to protect sensitive legal information.
Infrastructure Limitations: Unreliable power and connectivity in rural courts pose hurdles, addressed by designing tools for offline capabilities.
Ethical Issues: Over-reliance might undermine human judgment, so AI is positioned as an assistant, not a replacement, with training for users.
How Does AI Fit into Broader Judicial Reforms in India?
Integration with e-Courts Project: AI builds on digital initiatives like virtual hearings post-COVID, aiming for paperless courts under Phase III of e-Courts with a Rs 7,000 crore budget.
Policy Framework: The Supreme Court's white paper recommends guidelines for AI use, focusing on transparency, accountability, and pilot testing.
International Comparisons: Similar to AI in US courts for predictive analytics or China's Xiao Zhi for case recommendations, India's approach emphasizes human verification.
Future Prospects: Plans include expanding to district courts, developing JIVA for instant legal text access, and monitoring amendments via AI for real-time updates.
What Are the Benefits for Lawyers and Litigants?
For Lawyers: AI accelerates drafting and research, with firms like Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas using it for due diligence on thousands of contracts.
For Litigants: Faster resolutions reduce costs and wait times, with tools ensuring accurate translations and easy case tracking.
Economic Impact: Boosts legal sector productivity, potentially creating jobs in tech-law hybrids and supporting India's digital economy goals.
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